d-mars.com Business Journal 62

Business Journal July 2012

62nd Edition

Inspire, Inform & Educate

BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY

INSIDE

Do You Need A Will?

By Mena Freeman A will is one of the most important documents you can create in your lifetime.

PAGE 14

For Our Little Boys

By Dallas S. Jones I looked down at William and began to weep. I know it seems a little dramatic, but ...

PAGE 17

MARCUS ROLAND, CEO OF CENTRAL CARE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER AND STAFF “In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.”

- Marianne Williamson

Life Styles of the Broke and Desperate

By Lonnie R. Mathews We all know people who for some reason just can’t seem to get things together financially.

PAGE 26

Devlyn Davis, Finalist McDonald’s Happy Meal Chef Contest

Thelma Scott, Disability Advocate for People with Different and Unique Abilities

By Sharon C. Jenkins “Never Give Up, No Matter What!”

PAGE 32

d-mars.com Celebrates Houston’s Top 50 Black Attorneys

Mena Freeman

Elect R.W. Brays

New York Life

District 6

Freeman Financial joins

Texas State Senate

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July, 2012

July, 2012 3.

Behind The

Journal

Publisher’s Message

Keith J. Davis, Sr.

SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr. VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis EDITING CONSULTANT Sharon Jenkins OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Johnny Ray Davis, Jr. ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mike Jones C.T. Foster Pastor Freddie L. Davis, III Dwight Jones Eric D. Goodwine PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ferland Antwine DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sharon C. Jenkins Cynthia Nevels Shulunda Gibson Marina Coryat Mena Freeman Victoria D. Green Cedric Loiselle Dr. D. L. Jones Stephen D. Miller Lonnie R. Mathews Dean Anderson Kenneth L. Frank Frank Mims, V Richard Johnson Minister Joe Collins Dr. Zeb F. Poindexter, III Kevin “Brother D-Mars” Davis

Rose Carter Dr. Wendy Winston Takeda Dallas S. Jones R.W. Bray Steffy Claire Shawn McEvoy Errol Allen Laura M. Turner Karla Downing Maya Bailey Elvia Valdez Charles Swindell Chana Kurtz Noel Pinnock Victoria D. Green LaToya Darden

MR. D-MARS Tip of the Month “As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government.

I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality.”

-George Washington

“Building a Better Community” is our theme for the July journals. This is an election year which should cause all of us to reflect on our civil responsibility to construct a community that supports the betterment of its entire general public. The trickledown effect is always in play whether we cast a vote, or not. If you take action there is always a corresponding reaction. Taking no action is also taking action. I would like to remind you that you do have the power to bring about change in your community. It often starts when you become the catalyst for change in your life and in the lives of others. In this issue we are encouraging you to “build” instead of contributing to the demise of our community, not just in word but in deed also.

It’s more than being the change that you want to see in your neighborhood, you must become an infectious positive force in all of your areas of influence: your home, your job, your place of worship, etc. Imagine what would happen if we all made a conscious decision to do this as a collective unit. The world would not be the same, all because you decided to be the “change” that you desire to see in your community. “Think About It!” As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support d-mars.com, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work.

Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

Health and Wellness and Faith-Based Journals Included

CONTENTS

Central Care Community Health Center Provides Primary Care ...................................................

The Top 50 Black Attorneys in Houston Awards Ceremony ..........................................................

Do You Need A Will? ......................................................................................................................

Unify to Beautify: Beauty Fanatics Salon & Beauty Bar ...............................................................

Building a Better Community Today for a Better Tomorrow ..........................................................

The Disgruntled Customer – Your Best Friend! .............................................................................

Local Houston Youth Named Finalist In McDonald’s Happy Meal ChefsContest .........................

The Power of Love and Other Sources of Energy .........................................................................

Taking Care of your Voice is Taking Care of Your Business ..........................................................

Valerie Garcia, What Abuse Took Away .........................................................................................

Small Bits of Fitness Add Up ..........................................................................................................

How Therapeutic Writing Is Beneficial ............................................................................................

Kick Your Metabolism Into High Gear! ............................................................................................

How To Get the Body You’ve Always Wanted .................................................................................

We’ve Been There Done That: Setting the Captives Free From Prostitution ................................

Post Departing Depression ...........................................................................................................

Medicinal Use of Ginger .................................................................................................................

Living On A Building Job Site .........................................................................................................

For Our Little Boys .........................................................................................................................

HDHHS Does Re-entry Well There’s No Shortcuts to Successful Reentry ...................................

Boys In The Hood Needs Mentors ................................................................................................

HP Black Employee Network Promotes Cultural Diversity Through Juneteenth Celebration ......

Real Estate Marketing Strategies ....................................................................................................

Four Easy Steps to Yes ..................................................................................................................

MSNBC Commentator Keli Goff Celebrated at First Hometown Book Signing ............................

Life Styles of the Broke and Desperate ..........................................................................................

Small Things Have Big Effects ........................................................................................................

A Short Course in Budgeting for College Students ......................................................................

Does Your Resume Say “Hire Me?” ..............................................................................................

Moving the Sales Process Along ..................................................................................................

Build a Better Community by Giving Back ...................................................................................

R. W. Bray, Inspired to Make a Change ........................................................................................

Thelma Scott, Disability Advocate for People with Different and Unique Abilities ........................

Barbara Walker-Green Changing Lives Financially One Dollar at a Time .......................................

The Woman Who Washed Jesus’ Feet ...........................................................................................

4 Facts the Faith Community Should Know About Mental Health Issues .....................................

A Mathful God? ...............................................................................................................................

The Need for Authentic Teaching: Is The Black Church Breeding and Bleeding Blasphemy? ......

5 Christian Relationship Help: Unhealthy Characteristics of Dysfunctional Families ....................

Now That the “Weight” is Over! .....................................................................................................

D-MARS.com Business Journal

“d-mars.com is certified with SBE, HUB, DBE & Port of Houston SBDP.”

7322 Southwest Fwy, Suite 805 Houston, Texas 77074 713-272-9511 . Phone 713-272-6364 . Fax 1-800-453-8752 . Toll Free www.d-mars.com

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July, 2012 5.

CENTRAL CARE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER PROVIDES

PRIMARY CARE FOR SUNNYSIDE, ACRES HOME, AND THIRD WARD

By Saron C. Jenkins, Contributing Writer

S

outh Central Houston Action Council dba, Central Care Community Health Center (C.C.C.H.C.) is a medical oasis in the desert to the poor, underinsured, and uninsured. In 2010 they served over 10,000 patients and provided 21,000 preventive and primary medical encounters, partnering with area hospitals, specialty providers, and social service agencies. Marcus Roland, MBA is the current President and Chief Executive Officer for C.C.C.H.C.

CENTRAL CARE

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

Mission Statement

“To provide accessible, affordable and high quality comprehensive health care services to all people in the communities we serve, through collaborations, outreach programs, education, and partnering to reduce health disparities and increase access to all REGARDLESS OF THEIR

ABILITY TO PAY.”

CENTRAL CARE

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

Vision

“Central Care Community Health Center’s vision is to foster healthy, compassionate, vibrant communities by providing high quality health care services and promoting wellness in a trusting environment.”

CENTRAL CARE

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

daily.

As an answer to this medical emergency, C.C.C.H.C. became the city’s first FQHC and first fully Joint Commissioned Accredited Organization and has been serving the Southeast area of Houston for nearly 17 years. The Joint Commission is a nationally recognized organization that provides accreditation and certification status to a variety of health care organizations. To achieve the Joint Commission’s gold seal of approval, an organization must demonstrate compliance with all of the commission’s health care standards. C.C.C.H.C. proudly displays their seal of approval from The Joint Commission.

Not only is C.C.C.H.C. the oldest FQHC in Houston, Texas but they are also the first FQHC to start free rapid HIV testing. They chose rapid testing to ensure the optimum delivery of results.

During the program development they assessed the processing time, storage of various tests, ease of use, and reliability.

care. The efforts of Central Care and their dedicated staff have provided an invaluable service to the Sunnyside, Third Ward and mostly recently Acres Home Communities in reaching the undiagnosed and providing timely, compassionate care to those who are HIV positive. They believe a partnership with HIV Focus will help establish and promote best practices at an FQHC, and they look forward to promoting the HIV medical care and education that they do in the communities they serve. This means people diagnosed with HIV will have a medical home for all their primary care needs and not feel stigmatized due to their condition.

C.C.C.H.C. has the community support of local entities such as Texas Southern University, the AIDS Foundations, the City of Houston Health Department and Third Ward Community Cloth for outreach based programs. Through their outreach programs with these entities, their goal is to disseminate literature and provide HIV/AIDS health information access for

They chose the rapid oral test because it provides quick results which eliminate the need for people to return to get their results, although positive results must be confirmed by an additional test. Some additional benefits are: an oral test is less dangerous to the tester; with an oral test there is no risk to a health care worker of accidentally being pricked by a needle or being exposed to blood; people who do not like needle-sticks or are otherwise afraid of a blood test may decide to be tested; If people know immediately that they are positive for the HIV virus, they can begin to receive treatment sooner and take the necessary steps to prevent the transmission of the virus; unlike blood, oral fluid can be stored at room temperature and the tests do not require specialized equipment.

C.C.C.H.C. has received funding from HIV Focus for routine HIV testing and

patients and the affected community as well as their caregivers and the general public.

Also their emphasis on students and their partners is to provide information or access to health and medical information about Central Care in a way that is meaningful to the target community, and increasing the awareness of FQHCs providing primary preventative care through their medical home concept for HIV/AIDS patients and utilization of C.C.C.H.C. and medical resources in the HIV/AIDS community.

Values

“We are committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. Our interactions with all segments of the community reflect the high standards we profess …. Courtesy, Respect, Teamwork and Trust.”

S o u t h C e n t r a l H o u s t o n Action Council, Inc. Central Care Community Health Center ( C . C . C . H . C ) i s H o u s t o n’s oldest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

FQHCs are communitybased o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t provide comprehensive primary care and preventive care, including health, oral, and mental health/ substance abuse services to persons of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay or health insurance status. They are a critical component of the health care safety net.

C.C.C.H.C was established in 1992 to address the community’s loss of its most accessible source of primary health services when in 1991 the Harris County Hospital District (HCHD) relocated its Martin Luther King Clinic to the Fifth Ward. This move resulted in the loss of healthcare to 200 patients

For more information on the programs they have at their community health centers please contact Minnie Cox at 713734-4580 or email La Toya Darden at ldarden@centralcarechc.org.

A Proud Member of the Community Since 1994

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July, 2012

The Top 50 Black Attorneys in Houston Awards Ceremony Presented By d-mars.com Business Journal

T

he d-mars.com Business Journal is pleased to announce the success of its 1st Top 50 Black Attorneys in Houston Awards Ceremony. Discipline and diligence are just a few of the criteria for making the list. This year’s awardees have broken barriers in their respective fields and left an indelible mark on the face of Houston. Award recipients include Living Legends: Attorney Ricky Anderson and Dr. Benjamin L. Hall III; Community Heroes: Harry E. Johnson, Sr., William ‘Randy’ Bates Jr., Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Congressman Al Green; Trailblazers: Genora K. Boykins and Judge Clarease Rankin Yates and many other outstanding Houston attorneys placed in the categories of Super Attorney, Top Attorney, Top Judge, Up and Coming Attorney and People’s Choice.

“At d-mars.com we feel it is our obligation to provide Black attorneys with the proper platform that recognizes and celebrates their success. This is an excellent opportunity to give our local attorneys the accolades they deserve for their magnanimous achievements in the industry and contributions to the community,” said MR. D-MARS. living legends: Dr. Benjamin L. Hall III – The Hall Law Firm Attorney Ricky Anderson – Law Firm of Anderson & Smith, P.C. coMMunity heroes: Congressman Al Green – 9th Congressional District of Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee – 18th Congressional District of Texas Harry E. Johnson, Sr. – Law Firm of Glenn & Johnson William ‘Randy’ Bates Jr. – Bates & Coleman, P.C. trailblaZers: Genora K. Boykins – Attorney at Law Judge Clarease Rankin Yates – United States Immigration Court super attorneys: Antoinette M. Jackson – Coats & Rose, P.C. M.L. Curry – M.L. Curry Law Firm Reginald E. McKamie – Attorney at Law Teana V. Watson – Attorney & Counselor at Law Tyrone C. Moncriffe – Attorney at Law top Judges: *Judge Hazel B. Jones – 338th District Criminal Court *Judge Maria T. Jackson – 339th District Criminal Court up and coMing attorneys: Ashley N. Mayes – Attorney at Law Nichelle C. Williams –NCW Legal Consulting Tanisha C. Green – Law Office of Tanisha C. Green Tony Wadhawan – The Wadhawan Law Firm

July, 2012 7.

top attorneys: Antoy Bell – Office of Bell & Associates Barbara J. Hudson – Law Office of Barbara J. Hudson Brian M. Middleton – Middleton Law Firm, PLLC Dacia A. Williams – Attorney at Law Deshonda Charles Tackett –The Tackett Firm, PLLC Erica M. Graham – Nistico, Crouch & Kessler, P.C. Katrina Patrick – Law Offices of Katrina Patrick Kenneth Plaisance – Law Office of Kenneth Plaisance Kevin Murray – Attorney at Law Letitia D. Quinones – Quinones & Associates, PLLC Marjorie A. Murphy – The Murphy Law Practice Myron G. Davis – Law Office of Myron Davis *Ron Reynolds – Law Firm of Brown, Brown & Reynolds Sadiyah A. Evangelista – Attorney at Law Shannon B. Baldwin – Law Office of Shannon B. Baldwin Tammy E. Henderson Peden – Peden Law Practice Timberly J. Davis – T.J. Davis Law Firm, PLLC Wilvin J. Carter – Law Office of Wilvin J. Carter

people’s choice: Council Member C.O. Bradford –At Large 4, Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Trustee Carroll Robinson – District IV, HCC Board of Trustees Judge Al Bennett – 61st Civil Court Judge Alexandra Smoots Hogan –164th Civil Court Judge Belinda Hill – 230th Criminal Court Judge Hazel B. Jones – 338th District Criminal Court Judge Hilary H. Green – Harris County, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 7, Place 1 Judge Marc Carter – 228th Criminal Court Judge Maria T. Jackson – 339th District Criminal Court Council Member Larry Green – District K Representative Harold V. Dutton Jr. – State Representative District 142 Representative Ron Reynolds – State Representative District 27 Representative Senfronia Thompson – State Representative District 141 Representative Sylvester Turner – State Representative District 139 City Controller Ronald Green – Office of the City Controller Senator Rodney Ellis – State Senate District 13

“I was honored to be recognized as a “Community Hero” during the first installment of the “Top 50 Black Attorneys in Houston” awards ceremony. To be nominated among some of the most successful and influential African American legal professionals across the Greater Houston Area was a great privilege and I look forward to saluting next year’s recipients. Congratulations D- Mars on an outstanding inaugural event.”

- Congressman Al Green, 9th District-Texas “*” – Denotes additional award received of PEOPLE’S CHOICE

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July, 2012

PINNING CEREMONY

Top 50 Black Attorneys

First, thank you, to each of you for the Outstanding Pinning Ceremony, last week. Mr Hughes, Ms Freeman, it was a pleasure to meet you both, in person. I am certainly Proud, to be a part of the Event, as we recognize the Power of Our “United Presence, as Professionals” in the Houston Metropolitan Area. Secondly, your presence was priceless, as its always refreshing to share like ideas and creative concepts for success. Looking forward, to our collective continued success, in making the World a Better Place. “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Expected”. Keep up the Great Work, and may Success continue to Border your Shores. As always, thank you, for your Professional Courtesy, in this regard. All the best.

- Attorny Ricky Anderson

July, 2012 9.

AWARDS CEREMONY

Top 50 Black Attorneys

10. July, 2012

AWARDS CEREMONY

S

Top 50 Black Attorneys

ponsors of the Top 50 Black Attorneys Awards Ceremony are Comerica Bank, Mena Freeman Financial Services, Hess Club, UPS, Porsche of West Houston, TSU Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Daniel & Company, Lane Staffing, PICC Health Institute, Mass Mutual, Houston Lawyers Association, Dr. Heather Brown Orthodontics, First Impression Custom Clothes, American Business Machines, Mayberry Homes, Sterling Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation, NewsWireHouston.com and rolling out.

July, 2012 11.

AWARDS CEREMONY

Top 50 Black Attorneys

12. July, 2012

AWARDS CEREMONY

Top 50 Black Attorneys

“Very nicely done! Congratulations on putting on a great event at the Porsche dealership….

It was nice catching back up with dear friends and sharing an evening with Ricky…”

- Dr. Benjamin L. Hall, III, Ph. D., J.D.

“The occasion was an unprecedented recognition and celebration of African American Attorneys from various areas of the law with various levels of experience. I really enjoyed the festivities -- the live band, food and drinks as well as the inspiring speeches by Attorneys Benjamin Hall and Ricky Anderson. Thank you, d-mars.com Business Journal!”

“Everything was excellent. I am honored to be apart of it. Thank you for your dream and passion to do the work you do for our community. Congratulations on a job well done!”

“Humbly I say that my law firm has had the privilege of being recognized by a variety of outlets. However, I must say that Keith Davis, d-mars.com & staff and its sponsors exceeded my expectations with the entire production honoring the Top 50 Black Attorneys 2012. I am motivated for 2013!”

“I just wanted to tell you that you did a good job with the award ceremony last night. It was REALLY nice! I enjoyed it immensely. It was really nice to see a room full of successful African-Americans! The room was filled with such positive energy. Keep doing what you’re doing. You can count on my business in the near future!”

– Katrina patrick, law offices of Katrina patrick

– cleo browder, lpc, ncc, psychotherapist

– timberly J. davis, t.J. davis law firm, pllc

– Judge hazel b. Jones

Just a note to say CONGRATULATIONS on such an outstanding event and more importantly on establishing yourself even furthur as a trailblaizer in the urban media arena. I was very impressed and you should be very proud of the way things came together. I am proud to call you my friend. Much continued success!

– angel white

I was humbled and honored to be a part of such a historic gathering of such well respected attorneys and community leaders. While I have been featured in local magazines, this was special! D-Mars, please keep up the great work of keeping the community connected!

– reginald McKamie

“It would be a great injustice if I did not stop in my tracks today to commend you for being a Visionary and producing an Extraordinary Event. EVERYTHING about it was simply MARVELOUS. Thank you for including me and I look forward to helping in any way I can with next year’s event. “

– clarease rankin yates

Keith and the entire d-mars Family, I enjoyed myself last night and your did an excellent job.

– barbara hudson

July, 2012 13.

Do You Need a Will?

By Mena Freeman, Contributing Writer

A

will is one of the most important documents you can create in your lifetime. Think of a will as the financial blueprint of the distribution of your assets after your death. Your will can clearly state who will be guardian of your minor children, who will inherit your assets, when they will inherit your assets, and any conditions that must be met for them to receive your assets.

If you die without a valid will, the court does not have your instructions to follow. Therefore, it has no way of knowing how you may have wanted to distribute your assets. The state where you lived steps in and makes the decisions for you, according to the distribution schedule set forth in its intestacy statutes. The state’s decisions may or may not conform to your wishes, or to what is best for the people closest to you. And your loved ones will likely have to hire an attorney and incur delays to determine who will receive your assets.

C ommon M isconceptions My assets are so small that a will is not necessary.

Think again. You are generally worth more than you think.

Even if some possessions do not hold great monetary value, they could hold an enormous amount of sentimental value - and that’s something you can’t put a price on. Failing to indicate who receives these treasures in your will can cause friction among family members that lasts for decades.

When I die, my spouse will get all of my assets.

Maybe, and maybe not. Any assets held jointly with right of survivorship automatically pass to the joint owner. And assets with a beneficiary designation,

such as IRAs, life insurance and annuities, pass as stated on the beneficiary form. What happens when your surviving spouse dies?

What happens if your beneficiary form is outdated? Will your children receive their share at too early an age? Does your spouse have the financial skill to manage the family wealth?

I can create a will on my own and save the legal costs.

“Do-it-yourself ” wills often do not contain all of the necessary components as required by state law. Anyone who might benefit from an invalidation of your will can contest it, and if the courts decide in his or her favor, your estate may have to pay for all legal costs. The few dollars you save now can cost your loved ones thousands of dollars later.

I don’t want my final wishes to be set in stone.

I’ll create a will later in my life.

The terms of a will can change as often as needed. Legal experts agree that you should reexamine your will periodically to make sure it is up-to-date. A will should receive a “checkup” whenever there is a substantial change in your life.

H ow D o Y ou C reate a W ill ?

Drafting a will is difficult and is not an endeavor you want to tackle single-handedly. It’s important that you call on the services of an estate-planning lawyer. A lawyer might help you: • Determine what type of will you need • Help you make the right decisions as to how your assets should pass • Change the terms of an existing will, if appropriate • Save on estate taxes • Take advantage of estate planning opportunities people often overlook

L ife I nsurance and W ills

How does life insurance fit into the picture? Life insurance is a vehicle you can use to help make sure your estate has the

cash needed to pay expenses at your death, such as funeral costs, debts and estate taxes. Without liquid assets, the estate may be forced to sell assets — securities may have to be sold in a down market and other assets may have to be liquidated at a discount.

In most instances, life insurance proceeds are paid income tax-free to your beneficiaries. If desired, life insurance can be owned by a trust or a third party and also not be subject to estate taxes. more difficult for your loved ones if you don’t have a will. To ensure on t ait ntil t s oo ate that your will is legally viable, seek Despite the importance of an the services of a qualified attorney estate plan that includes a will, to draft and refine it.

65% of Americans today do not This educational third-party have a will. Why? Creating a will article is being provided as a forces each of us to come face- courtesy by Mena Freeman. For to-face with our own mortality additional information on the — and dealing with death is topic(s) discussed, please contact difficult. But it will be much Mena Freeman at 713/624-6426

D ’W U

I’ T L

Neither New York Life, nor its agents, provides tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal or accounting professional before making any decisions.

Mena Freeman, Agent New York Life Insurance Company 3200 Southwest Freeway #1900 Houston, TX 77027

14. July, 2012

Unify To Beautify: Beauty Fanatics Salon & Beauty Bar

By Kevin “Brother d-mars” Davis

D

uring this unpredictable fluctuated economy, Erica King and Alexis Craig both cosmetologists specializing in hairstyling, hair extensions, makeup artistry and lash extension decided to unite to beautify the professional working woman. The only thing that’s not fluctuated is their service prices. “We want women to be able to visit the salon without sacrificing their beauty to ensure their bills are paid-they can do both-pay bills and look good,” said Erica.

Although Alexis is an aspiring veterinarian attending Texas Southern University, beautifying women has always been a deep passion and enjoyment for her. “I don’t want to limit myself as only being a college student. I want students along with the professional working woman to look great,” Alexis explained.

Meanwhile, Erica has received a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from University of Houston-Downtown; and is presently working towards her master’s degree. She will be the first to admit her college education was not to acquire gainful employment. Erica desired her degrees for self-fulfilling prophecies- one being to beautify women at affordable prices.

Brother d-mars: How long has Beauty Fanatics Salon & Beauty Bar been in business?

Erica: Well, Beauty Fanatics has been incorporated since 2006. I opened the doors once before while I was working on my bachelor’s degree. During that time, I was unable to keep appointments, so I was losing money. Erica smiles… you know what happens next.

Brother d-mars: No. What?

Erica: I had to close it down. It was either complete my degree or leave the salon. I chose my degree at the time.

Brother d-mars: Alexis, what is

your specialty?

Alexis: Lash extensions are one of my specialties in addition to hair extension weaving.

Brother d-mars: What are Lash Exensions?

Alexis: I apply eye lashes purchased from the manufacturer. They are semi-permanent-meaning the lash extensions last longer than the store purchased eye lashes. I am a certified Lash Extensionist.

Brother d-mars: What plans does Beauty Fanatics have for its clients?

A lex is: Keeping our prices affordable for clients such as, relaxers with reconstructing conditioners including style only $50 and sew in hair weaving $110 including a haircut.

Brother d-mars: How are you different from your competitors?

Erica: We use all professional products from hair products to makeup such as, Mizani, Kera Care, Nairobi, Design Essential, LAMIK, Bobbi Brown, MAC, only to name a few. As a certified makeup artist, I want to ensure Beauty Fanatics clients receive top line professional products. We take pride in our work by not rushing

and overbooking clients. Our prices are affordable with no hidden fees.

To learn more about Beauty Fanatics Salon & Beauty Bar log on to www. BeautyFanatics. com.

-Kevin (Brother d-mars) Davis

July, 2012 15.

Building a Better Community Today for a Better Tomorrow

By Elvia Valdez, Contributing Writer

I

n a city w it h more than 2.2 million people from all walks of life, it is important to build a community that we can be proud of collectively. If one looks around, we can see that Houston continues to grow and its citizens are extremely diverse. To reflect the beauty of our great city we must push forward and strive to build a better community today for a better tomorrow.

What does that mean exactly? For starters it means taking a stand and refusing to sit on the sidelines.

Secondly deciding what type of person you are: One

that sits back and watches things happen, one that talks about making things happen and or one that goes out and makes things happen.

If you see something taking place in your community that does not make you proud or you silently wish something were different than make it happen for your community.

Life can be as beautiful as we choose to create it and our communities should be the reflection of what we desire for ourselves and our children, which are the future of all of our communities.

Our communities should be shaped by the people whose stories they tell,

not by the sizes of one’s home or the cars parked in the drive way. Everyone has a story to tell and our communities should be the playground that encourages an inspiration that fuels our minds to build a better community.

Make today count by seizing every breath of air to make it meaningful for yourself, your family and your community. Take up a cause head on and be the voice for the voiceless.

Help a person in need without second guessing whether their need is real or not. Let every day be your perpetual canvas where you create a better community, not just for your pleasure but for our children!

16. July, 2012

The Disgruntled Customer – Your Best Friend!

By Errol Allen, Contributing Wrtier

T

here is a person t h a t many businesses fear like the plague - the disgruntled customer.

The disgruntled customer is that person who is not happy with your product/service and doesn’t mind letting you know how he/she feels either via phone call, face to face or social media. Did you know that this customer is your best friend? I can hear you saying “Come on now Errol, my best friend? How can that be when they’re not happy with my product/ service?” Just like your best friend should be honest enough to tell you about your blind spots, the disgruntled customer - by way of their discontentment - brings your “business blind spots” to your attention.

Remember, only 4% of customers that decide to stop doing business with you bother to tell you why they’re no longer your customer. The other 96% just silently go away.

How do you deal with your disgruntled customer? Here are a few tips:

LISTEN TO THE ISSUE Allow your customer to fully vent, all the while filtering the conversation for bits of information that point to the customer’s reason for disgruntlement. Let the customer know that you’re listening by periodically offering a verbal confirmation such as -” “I understand your frustration” or “I can understand why this is an issue for you.” If your customer says “Are you still there?” (if you’re on the phone with the customer) then you know that your customer feels you aren’t listening. When face to face with your customer, this should never be in question!

APOLOGIZE Offer a sincere apology for the issue.

“First of all, let me apologize for any discomfort, inconvenience (whatever is appropriate) that this has caused.

RESTATE THE ISSUE Repeat back to the customer what he/she stated is the cause of his/her unhappiness.

This step reinforces in the customer’s mind that you’re really listening.

FOCUS ON THE RESOLUTION Stay focused on the resolution. Advise your customer of what you will do to correct the situation. Ask if the resolution is acceptable. Your customer will appreciate

this as you are getting their buy-in to your efforts to resolve the issue. If the customer insists on continuing to be focused on the issue, advise them again that you understand , restate your resolution and ask “ May I get started on correcting this for you?” or state “Let’s get started on taking care of this for you.”

When you need more info - If you don’t have a resolution readily available (this does happen sometimes), advise the customer that you will get the information required to develop the best resolution. Give the customer a timeframe (5 minutes, one day, etc.) in which you will provide the resolution, get their agreement and followup within the agreed upon timeframe. Your credibility is at stake as well as your ability to retain this customer.

FOLLOW-UP Don’t forget to follow-up with your disgruntled customer. Thank them for bringing the issue to your attention.

Let them know that by allowing you to correct the issue, it prevents the issue from reoccurring. Advise your customer of how valuable their input is to the success of your business and even offer a token (discount on next purchase, free items, etc.) to express your gratitude.

Analyze the issue - Create a database of customer issues in order to identify negative business patterns. It’s important to analyze your operations from your customer’s viewpoint. The goal is to consistently provide great customer service.

Your willingness to thoroughly examine why the issue happened and prevent it in the future is very important to maintaining a high rate of retention.

Remember, cherish the disgruntled customer. By voicing their dissatisfaction, they’re giving you an opportunity to retain their business (and the business of others who might be impacted by the same issue) versus just silently allowing your competition an opportunity to replace you.

www.errolallenconsulting.com 1-800-830-4167

July, 2012 17.

For Our Little Boys

By Dallas S. Jones, Contributing Writer

M

uch of my writings are inspired by personal life happenings that ultimately translate to bigger life meanings. On Sunday as I sat through church service, I had the fortunate opportunity to hold my infant nephew William on my lap through the entire service. As the altar prayer started and so many walked to the front in hopes of laying their burdens and cares upon the altar in search of spiritual resolution, I looked down at William and began to weep. I know it seems a little dramatic, but the combination of the spiritual awakening that was taking place with the innocence of what sat in my arms, I found myself overwhelmed, yet inspired.

Here was the little boy of one of my best friends since childhood sitting in my arms. I could not help but to think of all the woes his father, uncle, and I had gone through to become the men we are today.

Being raised in single mother homes, pursuing higher education on a shoestring budget, and even being victims of violent crime, we managed to survive to contribute

something meaningful to the world, and for William’s father he was the result.

You see, I thought about the fact that I too at one time, was his size, that inquisitive, and that innocent. I also realized that one day I would hold my own child in my arms, hoping to protect them from all that would come to harm them. I wondered what my parents thought about when I was William’s size.

William will grow up, as we all do. We hope that when he does, this country will have overcome so many of the problems that plague African American youth. We hope to surmount disproportionate incarceration rates where African American men, according to the DC Based Sentencing Project, now constitute 900,000 of the total 2.2 million incarcerated in this country. 1 in 6 African American men have been incarcerated since 2001.

I hope we will overcome the educational gaps that exist. Gaps where 33% of African American students attend high poverty high schools. The rate at which African American males drop out or get placed in special education far exceeds the rate at which they are graduating and reaching high levels of academic achievement.

We hope we can create a society where African American men are pushed to state institutions filled with books instead of bars.

I hope we will begin to change the cycle of what we teach our children. We won’t cloak them in old stereotypes filled with hate and bigotry. We can begin to teach them that justice and fairness for all doesn’t only apply to people that don’t look and think like them. We can teach them that we as a society are only as strong as the weakest of us and only together can we progress. A society where we learn it’s okay to strive to be all that we can be and playing small should never be an option.

I believe we can get there. When

HDHHS Does Re-entry Well There’s No Shortcuts to Successful Reentry

By Rose Carter, Contributing Writer

A

pproximately 15,000 ex-offenders are released into the Houston community from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice each year. In response, Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) has developed the HDHHS Community Re-Entry Network (CRNP), an innovative program and support system for exoffenders in the Greater Houston area. The program will serve anyone who has had involvement with the criminal justice system and is residing in Harris County.

They must be at least 18 years old and willing to meet the intensive curriculum requirements for the program. This program services ex-offenders from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Harris County Jail, Harris Count Probation, State Jail and Federal Bureau of Prisons. It does not serve individuals who have

been convicted of a sex crime or arsonists. Orientation is offered two times per month at the HUB location: Kashmere Multiservice Center, 4802 Lockwood Drive, Houston Texas 77026.

The goal of the program is to increase successful community re-entry after incarceration. It is designed to focus on areas of the city that are most impacted by re-entry and recidivism, while providing a network of resources and linkages in close proximity.

The expected outcomes include reduced recidivism and re-arrests, improved employment and retention rates, stabilized housing for a minimum of one year, and increased familial involvement in service delivery.

The program transitioned to the HDHHS in 2008, prior to that it existed in the mayor’s office for nine years. They now offer a more holistic program. Willis Robinson, Administration Manager for the

CRNP stated, “Prior to, it was a one man show where this person was going into the prisons and disseminating information and when they would come out she would make referrals. The new program has progressed to a full program that offers life skills, case management, substance abuse education, basic needs referrals, mental health referrals, employment readiness training and job readiness classes.” The health department in addition to sister collaborating agencies provides these services to their program participants.

As of June, they have serves approximately 5000 clients and look to expand their reach to other parts of the city. HDHHS is in the midst of putting educational services in the southwest and northwest portion of the city. The number of individuals relocating to these areas of city has increased significantly and mandates that

that altar prayer happened on Sunday, and young William looked at me I forgot about myself, and this was my prayer for him and for my children to come. We deserve to create a society that embraces our young black men and their potential.

If we don’t, we will continue to lose them for generations to come. We can do more for our little boys.

Dallas S. Jones is the CEO of Elite Change, LLC a public affairs and political consulting firm with offices in Houston, Dallas, Baton Rouge, and Washington, DC. He resides in the 3rd Ward community with his wife Angela Lopez Jones.

HDHHS offer educational services in sites in these areas for this population. They will need to go to the Kashmere Multiservice Center(the hub) for the other services.” There is also a Participant Advisory Committee (PAC) which consists of alumni participants who support and police each other after graduating from the program.

Robinson states, “We measure our success by the men and women remaining home and successfully maintaining their parole and probation requirements. Most of our clients know about the programs by word of mouth and through the relationships we have with some of the parole officers in the city.”

The program has many success stories, but one of the most compelling story is that of Murray Bailey. “The city program has been a life changing experience for me. When I was released from prison in 2008, I had been promised a job that never came through,”states Bailey. Rosey Ruiz was called in to help him.

He had watched Rosey come in and out of prison, getting her associates, bachelors, and masters’ degree for 11 years, and thought if Rosey can do it, than I can do it.

He told her,“ I need some help

and I’m sacred. I have no place that I want to go and I am scared.

She arranged for me to be picked up and found a place for me to stay for one night. In order for her to continue to help me I had to sign up for the program. I came to the health department and filled out the paperwork and got a job at the animal shelter two weeks later. It doesn’t happen for everyone like that. The only thing I can say is that it was God. On February 9th I was working for Bark. Something happened with one of the puppies at Bark and I had to be reassigned. When I arrived back at re-entry, Willis Robinson put me to work at the office and I have been there every since. My success in this program has led me to go back to school to work on my social work degree at Texas Southern University. I am now a junior. The program doesn’t work it gives you the tools to work with.”

Robinson, his mentor echoes his sentiment, “The individual has to do the work. If you are willing to change your life, than this is the place to be!”

For additional information, including enrollment information, call 832.393.5464 or email hdhhs.reentry@cityofhouston. net.

18. July, 2012

BOYZ NTHE HoOD Need Mentors

By Dr. D.L. Jones, Contributing Writer

M

entors can change the lives of young people in our urban communities. Young black males, when mentored by a successful black adult, improve in all areas of life including education, behavior, relationships with parents, and self-esteem.

It also is contagious among their peers; once influenced by a positive adult role-model, kids tend to provoke a healthy jealousy among their peers

causing them to want a mentor in their lives as well. How does this all come about?

The first step in this process is to recruit enthusiastic and appropriate mentors who are willing to participate in a mentoring program. Although finding appropriate candidates can seem daunting—as can retaining these volunteers once they have been trained and matched and are faced with the reality of mentoring—I pray this article will offer the needed guidance on how to effectively recruit, select, and retain mentors in the community in which you reside.

Who is it that resides in your

neighborhood that would make a good mentor? Don’t tell me there aren’t any, because in every community there are good people who get up and go to work and take care of their families. The misnomer is that a successful black mentor is the man who is a doctor or lawyer. Not the case. Successful mentoring only requires a good fit between a youth (the mentee) and a mentor (the adult). The right chemistry in the relationship can make for a positive and productive relationship. Recruiting people who are the most appropriate mentors and tailoring them to troubled and/or fatherless youth is the key to effective mentormentee relationships.

Let me make one thing very clear.

I am a supporter of black on black mentor-mentee relationships.

Although, matching mentors with mentees solely by race can be controversial. On one hand, pairing youth with mentors of the same or similar ethnicity is a ‘no-brainer’ based on the mutual understanding, cultural identity, life experiences, and social efficacy.

However, don’t overlook the advantages of exposing young urban children to the perspectives of mentors with different ethnicities, life experiences, knowledge and life opportunities on which they can build upon.

Ok, you’re asking me how I make this happen.

From my experience as founder and president of Project SMART (Saving Males At Risk Training), I’ve discovered through practice that people are more inclined to volunteer as mentors for a program if the participants are sincere, trustworthy and the program has support from the community. To get that support, new programs need to build visibility and support one home at a time. Established programs such as the YMCA, 100 Black Men, Urban League or Boy Scouts of America need to examine how they are perceived by the community and how they can better market themselves in

ways that will help them recruit good mentors who understand what we come to know as “atrisk” children.

People may assume that any child in need of a mentor is “bad” or “troubled.” This misperception is far from the truth and can actually hurt in the recruiting of good mentors. A child in need of a mentor can be “at-risk” in many areas, (i.e., fatherless, slow learner, handicapped, low self-esteem, shy, negative outlook on life, etc.) however, the lens in which most see the need is the lens of delinquency. There are more non delinquent children that need mentors than there are those who are.

Those seeking to enrich your neighborhood by establishing a mentoring program should heed to the fact that recruiting and training mentors take time and effort. Don’t be discouraged if you are the only person taking on this daunting task. Be patient and keep the doors of mentorship open all the time. Remember, good mentors come with time.

By carefully selecting mentors, matching them with appropriate youth, and providing them with training, support, supervision, and recognition, a good mentoring program can make a life changing difference to those Boyz N the Hood.

July, 2012 19.

HP Black Employee Network Promotes Cultural Diversity Through Juneteenth Celebration

By Ann Wiiliams

T

h i s m o n t h ’s Black Histor y f e a t u r e showcases The Black Employee Network (BEN) of HP. Their Houston campus organized and hosted their first Juneteenth event on June 19th, in (CCA5) HP visitors’ courtyard.

As an employee resource group BEN suppor ts HP’s efforts to encourage diversity and inclusion. In addition to hosting events that displays inter-cultural understanding of AfricanA meric a n employees, BEN presents professional development sessions to e n h a n c e e m p l o y e e ’s careers, extend community outreach opportunities, demon st rate work-l i fe balance skills and promote educational components that are relevant to the

world’s largest technology company.

H P-BE N Hou s ton recognizes the importance of Juneteenth because it honors African American heritage by commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. Unlike today with the use of technology where information travels instantaneously via Twitter

or FaceBook; slaves in Texas did not know that they were freed until June 19, 1865. For nearly 150 years, Texas has recognized Juneteenth as a holiday and is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. HP-BEN- Houston was pleased to receive support from their local community sponsors. Major c ont r ibutor s i nc lude d

Tomball Ford, 22702 Texas 249 Tomball, TX 77375; Tamara Ross, Assistance General Manager and First Tech Credit Union located on HP- Campus. Other HP sponsors included, HP- Houston Site Council, Brian Tippens, Director, Procurement Sustainability & Innovation; BEN – Executive Sponsors Brian Hoffmann, Vice President of Human Resources for the PC GBU and James D. Cook, Vice President, Global Operations Control.

Over the last two years, HP-BEN Houston has led several projects and activities to align with HP’s mission as an extension of our social responsibility.

Those activities included hosting events to promote i nterc u lt u r a l understanding such as our various Black History

Mont h Celebrations which included a global watch party to view the presentation of Linda Cureton, CIO, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as the key speaker at the HP wide Black History Month celebration.

Our team has also offered Professional Development to our members such as Guiding Career through the Virtual Jungle and How to Present Effectively to Management. Finally, to positively impact the greater

Houston community our outreach project activities have included volunteer hours at the Houston Food Bank –Keegan Center and donating $395.00 through online fundraising for Wreaths Across America Houston; which exceeded our team goal.

Mr. D-MARS would like to congratulate HPBEN for commemorating Juneteenth and inviting the general Houston public to the party. We look forward to another successful event next year.

20. July, 2012

Real Estate Marketing Strategies - 5 Tips To Use Your Sphere Of Influence To Double Your Income I

By Maya Bailey

find that many of my clients avoid marketing when it comes to their sphere of influence. Yet statistics show that your sphere of influence can be the greatest source of referrals. Let’s look at how you can dig in and get the “gold.”

TIP: 1 Define and R ate your Sphere of Influence

When is the last time that you took a good look at your contact list? What is the total? What are the categories in that group? Do you have past clients, friends, acquaintances, people you hardly know?

Before you do anything else go into your data base and group your sphere of influence in categories.

Do you know who in your sphere is likely to refer to you? Do you know who in your sphere already works with another agent? How many have moved away? Start deleting the inappropriate ones.

Be sure to ask all of them this question at some point: “If you were buying or selling

a home do you have a real estate agent that could help you?” If they say “yes” delete them. There is no point in continuing, they are not prospects. By keeping in touch with your sphere of influence as we will describe below, you’ll begin to find out who is an A,B, C, or D. A Someone likely to refer to you B Someone who with a little more contact with you, would refer to you C Questionable D Delete

Tip 2: Send an Item of Value

to your sphere each month

In my 14+ years of coaching Real Estate agents to double their incomes, I am amazed at the fact that sometimes their list never gets a mailing. Or sometimes the mailing is not well thought out. I worked with a client today who admitted that the material she was sending to her sphere was standard and boring. We brainstormed about Items of Value that would be interesting, fun and unique. So far she has come up with recipes and inspirational quotes. What do you send to your sphere of influence?

Is it something you would want to receive and find valuable? If so, then I guarantee that your sphere will like it too.

How many creative Items of Value can you come up with?

Tip 3:

Overcome your blocks to calling your sphere

Everyone I have ever worked with resists calling their sphere.

They tell me things like • “I don’t want them to think I want something from them” • “I’m afraid they won’t like me” • “I don’t want to be like a telemarketer” The list goes on, but I think you get the idea. What you need to understand is that you’re a giver. When givers give to other givers, they get back. So, in other words, if you send an Item of Value, you are giving, when you chat with them and listen to what’s going on in their lives, you’re giving again. So at the end of the call, say something like, “ Oh by the way, if you hear of anyone even whispering about buying or selling a home, please give me a call with their name and number.”

Then say, “I’ll be happy to send referrals to your business, as well.” Guess what? You’re giving again.

After doing these calls monthly (after mailing of Items of Value) you’ll begin to know your sphere of influence and they’ll know you. You’ll begin to learn which ones are you’re A’s, B’s, C’s and which ones

to delete. Then what will happen is that you’ll be in their stream of consciousness.

So you’re the first one they’ll think of when they think of real estate. Don’t be surprised if you get referrals in the first few weeks.

Tip 4:

Be in the right mindset

Don’t make these calls if you’re feeling anxious, upset or desperate. Remember, desperation doesn’t sell. So psych your self up in the right mindset. Think of your self as a giver and how happy they are going to be to hear from you. Tip: if you have been thinking negatively, switch your focus to what you are grateful for. That usually puts you in a much better mood to pick up the phone.

Tip 5: Make it a daily ritual

Just like brushing your teeth, calling some people out of your sphere of influence is essential. Even one a day is OK. Call several times a day if you want your income to rise quickly.

Decide when to make your calls and keep at it until you’ve reached the people you were trying to call. Expect that several weeks after doing this; it will feel a lot easier. An extra perk is that you’re going to be deepening some great relationships and you’ll experience the same pleasure of calling them up as you would with a good friend.

Copyright© 2011, Dr. Maya Bailey.

All right reserved. contact the FrogPond at 800.704.FROG(3764) or email susie@ FrogPond.com

July, 2012 21.

22. July, 2012

4

EASY STEPS TO YES Is Nonverbal Communication K illing Your Business?

By Cynthia Nevels, Contributing Writer

Y

ou missed your deadline. You double booked your schedule.

You loss your temper with a client and you have purposef ully chose not to check your email or voicemails until you feel up to it. Does this sound familiar? Your nonverbal signals are sending a message to your customers and vendors that may hinder your growth. That message is communicated nonverbally that says, “No, I’m not open for business.” According to a study

by Marie L. Radford, nonverbal communication is defined as “all the messages other than words that people exchange.”

Have you asked yourself why your revenues are not meeting previously set expectations?

Why your phone is not ringing the way you want it to ring?

Why your customers don’t seem to enjoy their experience with you. Perhaps the problem is not with the other person, it could be the culprit is you and your nonverbal communication signals.

We have all had our moments of “What the heck does the customer want from me?” in our professional lives. The outrageous and seemingly impossible requests that may or may not fit the scope of the work you promised; or the numerous editing or re-makes in search of perfection because the client is unsure of what they want.

What do you do when your first instinct is to tell the client to go jump in the lake? Do you respond in your subconscious, “No way, I’m not doing that?”

Often times our subconscious minds have already thought of many reasons to say “no.” Whether you’re overworked and exhausted, underpaid, or just annoyed at the gall of the customer; your response will reflect the subconscious and you won’t know it. Over the last twelve years, I have analyzed and studied how business owners choose to communicate with their customers and vendors. I have found, like in a marriage, one key factor for developing a successful business and valuable relationships is communication.

Your methods, communication style, and logical inference have a significant impact on the recipient’s perception of you.

As more and more diverse procurement opportunities and globalization opens doors for invaluable small businesses, the need for better communication and commitment to client satisfaction is paramount. One wrong word in a text or email, a sigh, hesitation or pause on the telephone or an ignored email can be a death sentence for you and your business. Saying no to a client nonverbally is more powerful than hanging a neon sign on your door that reads, “Closed.”

Here are four easy steps to help you learn how to say “yes” to your customers and improve your customer and vendor relationships.

Listen

LISTEN

Whether you are right or wrong in a disagreement with a client is totally irrelevant if you want to stay in business for the longterm. The customer may be completely clueless but it is not your duty to tell them they are clueless and ignite a situation that could blow up in flames. Our tendency to avoid being perceived as incompetent, derelict or wrong in business can be perceived as arrogant, prideful and foolish.

Smart business managers do little talking except when it is to share something that solves a problem or is profoundly useful based on experience, knowledge and skill.

You must be able to hear the issue, calculate an appropriate response void of current emotion and infer a rational conclusion prior

to exclaiming your perception of what is right. According to author and scientist Leonard Berkowitz, “Lying is a common aspect of interpersonal relationships. It has many forms and many names – white lies, faking, bluffing, acting, cover-ups, put-ons and others.”

Some may call this step “being fake” but professionals call this step “superior customer service.”

Call it what you will but listening will shed light on the problem to enable you to think of a palatable solution.

Analyze

ANALYZE

Can you recall being a kid and your parent giving you instructions to clean your room, complete your homework, or do your chores?

When I was in a grade school if I hesitated to respond, took my time completing a request from my mother or retorted with an inappropriate verbal response to my mother’s directive the consequence was swift. The rules in business are the same. There is an expectation from a healthcare provider, manufacturer, retailer to stylist that a need will be met in a timely manner. In order for that customer to check that need off of their list of “to-do’s” they require steadfast responses from the people or company they chose to do business with.

A hesitation on the phone while discussing a project update, processing an order or correcting an error could be misinterpreted by the customer that you feel they are wrong and that you are not willing to meet their need, you’re not fully engaged, the customer’s needs are not priority, or you will not deliver. A client recently experienced such a breakdown in communication. She was referred to a stylist by a relative and an appointment was made via text message where the stylist confirmed the appointment with the relative. My client showed up for her appointment on time and waited outside for the stylist.

One hour later the stylist had not shown up for the appointment nor responded to follow up text messages to gauge his expected time of arrival. An hour and a half later, the stylist texted the relative and advised he was at a spa and was not aware of an appointment.

COME IN! WE ARE OPEN One would expect this type out to be easier than expected of behavior to have an adverse when you demonstrate excellent consequence on many different communication skills. levels for the stylist.

Say “Yes” Respond When communicating with your By ignoring or overlooking an customers or vendors come from email, a voicemail or a text sent by a place of “yes.” Over promising, a customer or vendor you could overselling or over committing be signing your own professional is not the point here. It is more death certificate. Nonresponsive mental redirection where you are behavior can mean many different more open to the idea of satisfying things to the recipient – that you are the need of the customer at all aloof, unattainable, disrespectful, costs and being able to verbally forgetful or unreliable. Either way and/or nonverbally communicate your customers will choose to your willingness to meet the need spend their dollars with those who in a positive and constructive are open to meet their needs when manner. A premeditated “yes” they need it and how they want it. goes a long way in reassuring the Studies show there is a protocol customer you are the right choice, for communicating in today’s you are committed and you will fast paced environment. Experts meet their need with a smile. recommend you respond to email or text messages within one to six hours (within reasonable work Cynthia Nevels has owned and hours.) Waiting until the next operated her small business day to respond could cost you. consulting firm, CynthiaNevels.

Answer phone calls immediately if com, for 11 years. She’s an adjunct you are available to talk. If not, I professor at Mountain View recommend you use a system like College and Richland College eVoice.com to setup an automated and developed Mountain View’s attendant for as little as $12 a Advanced Entrepreneurship and month. Return voicemails within Small Business Management one to two business days of receipt Certificate program. Her first and acknowledge your delay once career was as a technology you make a live connection with recruiter and consultant with your target audience. Following Siebel Systems (now Oracle) and proper communication protocol Keane Consulting. She wrote the demonstrates you are not taking book Financial Bailout and is your counterpart for granted and working on a second one. you value their business. Even the calls that annoy you the most turn

RESPOND

SAY “YES”

July, 2012 23.

24. July, 2012

Houston Native, Turned MSNBC Commentator Keli Goff Celebrated at First Hometown Book Signing

By Rose Carter, Contributing Writer

K

eli Goff, a writer best known to audiences for her weekly appearances as a political analyst on MSNBC, and more than 100 national and international television appearances, recently celebrated the paperback release of her second book, The GQ Candidate with friends, family and local Houston notables. Following book parties hosted in New York by MSNBC host Dylan Ratigan, and in Washington,

D.C . by C on g re s s wom a n Carolyn Maloney and former Congressman Artur Davis, Goff’s first ever Houston book party was hosted on Saturday, June 9, 2012, by former KPRC news anchor Linda Lorelle, federal judge Vanessa Gilmore, and Amber Winsor, Deputy Director of Houston’s Contemporary Arts Museum.

Goff stated, “Seeing women of color like Linda Lorelle on television while I was growing up made me believe it was possible to pursue a career in broadcast journalism so having her co-host the party for me and say she was proud to see me on television meant a lot.” A definite inspiration for Houston’s youth who are seeking a career in journalism, Goff attributes her success to having role models who were visible and approachable in her community. “It was really a full circle night for me. As a girl I attended the swearing in of Judge

Vanessa Gilmore, one of the first black female federal justices. At her swearing she encouraged me to pursue my dreams and I did.

Now 18 years later here she is cohosting my book party,” stated Goff.

“With “The GQ Candidate” being my second book, I’ve now had a couple of book parties but there is nothing like coming home. This party in Houston was so special because it was filled with so many people responsible for starting me on this journey to becoming a writer and broadcast journalist, including the woman I consider my very first official editor, my high school English teacher Mrs. Jay.” Goff’s party was followed by her keynote address and book signing at the Houston Black Book Festival on Sunday, June 10th.

The GQ Candidate has received glowing recommendations from: The Los Angeles Times, More Magazine, Jet Magazine and

Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington for its entertaining, yet accurate, portrayal of “family matters” that often occur when a candidate is on a presidential campaign trail. Goff draws from her experience covering politics to craft a tale that has been described as “Entourage” meets “The West Wing.” She introduces readers to the colorful inner circle of Gov. Luke Cooper, a handsome, charismatic AfricanAmerican politician, whose run for the presidency turns the lives of his friends and family upside down. “This is such an important election and I want people, especially people in communities of color, to demonstrate the same enthusiasm about politics and voting this time as they did in 2008. That’s part of why I wanted to do a political novel. I believe it is an entertaining way to reach people on issues that really matter,” Goff says.

The GQ Candidate follows

Goff’s critically acclaimed first book Party Crashing: How the Hip-Hop Generation Declared Political Independence, for which she interviewed Colin Powell, Rev. Al Sharpton and many others. Since its release Goff and her work have been covered in a host of news outlets, from Vanity Fair, to the New York Times and Black Enterprise.

Current ly a Contributing Editor for Loop21.com and a regular Contributor to the Huffington Post, her writing has also appeared in TIME and Cosmopolitan Magazines. To learn more about Goff and The GQ Candidate, please visit www. keligoff.com or follow Goff on twitter at @keligoff.

July, 2012 25.

26. July, 2012

Lifestyles Of The Broke And Desperate small Things Have

By Lonnie R. Mathews, Contributing Wrtier

BIG Effects

L

e t’s face it, no o n e ever says out loud “I want to be forty years old, neck deep in debt with no hope for a financial future.”

Maybe things aren’t quite that bad but have you ever wondered what makes some individuals wealthy and others not so much.

We all know people who for some reason just can’t seem to get things together financially. I mean they seem to live from one financial crisis to the next; they do not have a dime to their name and are always in a bind.

This month I want to talk about the things that people do that keeps them living the lifestyle of the broke and desperate. It was once said that your success in life is based on the following things, the people you meet, the books you read, and the habits you form. If you want to be wealthy then you have to develop the same habits of those who have built wealth. Otherwise, the alternative is to live the lifestyle of the broke and desperate.

While there are probably thousands of reasons why people are not living the financial lives they dreamed of having. The following are some reasons why people find themselves broke and desperate: Budget, what is that: After speaking to thousands of individuals on various topics in personal finance, I have concluded that people just don’t budget. The biggest complaint that I hear from individuals is that they just don’t know where their money is going. These same people don’t live on any sort of budget. Budgeting does not have to be complicated; it is just a matter of deciding what you are going to spend your money on before you actually get it in your possession. The simple act of just writing down what you intend to spend your money on before payday can be a major step toward getting where you want to be financially and to stop letting your money disappear down an endless black hole each month.

Credit, just can’t get enough: Another reason people find they are living the life style of the broke and desperate is they cannot delay gratification. In other words, credit has become

By Noel Pinnock, B.S., M.P.A., C.A., CCC, Contributing Writer

T

an integral part of their lives.

The concept of saving to a get anything is a foreign one; these individuals just put the things they want on a credit card until it has reached its limit and they will say something like “We’ll figure out how to pay for it later!”

At least I look good: This is the mantra of the middle class. People that live the lifestyle of the broke and desperate are constantly concerned about looking good at any cost. It may start with buying a house in a neighborhood that they can’t afford. Then in order to keep up appearances they buy nicer cars, etc. One bad decision often begets another. Individuals living this life would rather have others think they are doing better than they really are. The result is they end up spending a lot of money on things they don’t need in order to appear wealthy.

It’s not my fault: Most broke people are what you call perpetual victims; I am not saying that sometimes bad things don’t happen to good people because it does. However, if you ever listen to someone that is broke things never seem to be their fault.

Personal accountability is never an option; usually the blame for poor financial decisions is shifted to someone or something else. Broke and desperate people usually blame their family, the government, or some other entity.

Their favorite saying is something along the lines of “The little guy just can’t get a break.”

I could die tomorrow: Broke

and desperate people often don’t give much thought to the future and what it holds for them.

Broke and desperate people are busy living in the moment. They rarely have any money to set aside for the future because in most cases they have spent it all today. The future just seems too far away to worry much about.

“What if I die tomorrow I would have saved for nothing.” If I had a dime every time, I heard this one….you know the rest.

I realize after reading this article I may sound a little judgmental, but before you judge let me say this. I have strong convictions about these things because I was the person that this article was describing. I wrote this so that you would look at your own attitude toward money and look at the person in the mirror.

Two words that have escaped the English language are “Personal Responsibility.” What happen to the days where “I will make my own way and not rely on anyone else”?

The question is, have you ever engaged in any of these behaviors? Do you have a friend or family member that comes to mind as you are reading this?

Think about it?

This article was written by Lonnie R. Mathews for the Who’s Minding Your Money blog. Lonnie is an author and speaker in the area of personal finance. To learn more about Lonnie or to contact him visit www.lonniemathews.com

h e A f r i c a n proverbial phrase, “it takes a village to raise a child,” is certainly applicable at levels of our life, and is not limited to young children, teens, or young adolescents and is by no means exclusive to a specific gender, class, or ethnic group.

It originated from the Nigerian Igbo culture and proverb “Ora na azu nwa,” which means it takes the community/village to raise a child. The Igbo’s also name their children “Nwa ora” which means child of the community.

Let’s face it, we are all challenged to maintain our competitive edge in an ever-evolving cultural and socio-economic world that places strong demands on its human capital outlay. It is also very glaring that our village have long since been expanded beyond the reach of our neighboring domiciles. We no longer live in silos bounded by limitations of our own rationality.

In fact, in a global economy, the world becomes our community and each member in the global community affects the lives of the populous at-large.

I definitely learned a lot from my mom and dad but I learned even more from the people in my circles as well as those who were not in the circle. Adaptation is a fundamental human trait that has a direct and indirect impact on our lives. Momma use to say, “watch who you hang around and one who hangs around you.”

It is critical that we are cognizant of the power of influence. We inevitably have either positive or negative influences on everyone we directly or indirectly encounter. As the potter shapes the clay, our life’s encounters

shape our behavior, thoughts, feelings, attitude, and actions.

Recently, I spoke before a room full of Senior Level Executives and Melody Bizego, a Corporate Marketing & Communications Strategist, was just one of the 200 attendees. She was kind enough to send these confirming words vis-à-vis of LinkedIn: “… Noel is an enthusiastic and inspirational speaker, who has the unique ability to reach into his audiences’ heart, plant a message of hope and desire, and inspires each to elevate their goals to achieve their dreams. It was exhilarating for me as marketing strategist recently, to witness as Noel’s dynamic charisma and targeted message impacted a room full of Senior Level Executives.”

Melody Bizego 10/13/2009 I was pleased to receive these words, because I truly under estimated the impact the short 30-minute speech had on the hearts and minds of so many diverse people packed in the large pale conference room that was adorned with pictures of hope and prosperity. Over one-third of the attendees were eager to converse after the event, which led me to believe each of us can teach one to reach one despite barriers and presuppositions.

Referring back to the African proverb, where it takes a village to raise a child…I challenge you to the two quintessential underlying questions that oftentimes remain stealth in the mindset of so many people who embrace this historical philosophy. These two questions are established on the premise, if it takes a village to raise a child then who trains the village and who in the village is invited to the training? Martin Luther King once wrote that, “Human progress does not roll on the wheels of inevitability,” If we want to attain true progress, we must continue to teach one to reach one or as many as we can, one day at a time.

July, 2012 27.

A Short Course in Budgeting for College Students

Does Your Resume Say “Hire Me?”

By Kenneth L. Frank

By Charles Swindell, Financial Services Representative MetLife Financial Group of Houston

O

ne “extracurricular” activity that every student should master while in college is personal money management.

Typically, a student’s dayto-day spending is done on an improvised basis, meaning that overspending is often the norm rather than the exception.

It is estimated that during a school year the average college or university student will spend approximately $4,000 for books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses (Trends in College Pricing—2009, The College Board). However, there is often room for economizing.

The first place to look is at food and telephone calls. Difficulty may occur in controlling these expenses, especially if pizza is ordered regularly at 2 AM and long-distance friends are simply a phone call away.

While many students may assume it costs less to live off campus than in a dorm, they may be in for a surprise.

In college towns with a high demand for off-campus housing, accommodations within walking distance of the campus may tend to be expensive. Some landlords require a one-year lease—a period longer than the school

year—thus, subleasing privileges should be included as part of an “economical” lease. However, off-campus students can save money by sharing housing and doing their own cooking.

Money smarts 101

The following may serve as important steps toward helping your student understand college finances: 1. Before your student leaves for college, sit down and have an open discussion of expectations—both your child’s and yours.

2. Consider providing a lump sum each semester, making it clear how long the money must last.

3. Explain when checks or money transfers can be expected, the amounts that will be received, and any rules concerning the use of funds.

Since most students rely on savings and checking accounts— regardless of whether they include parental funds, their own, or a combination of both— it is important for them to understand how these accounts work. The ability to balance an account accurately and make needed corrections is especially critical.

Many undergraduates may keep most of their funds in hometown financial institutions.

However, managing financial affairs long-distance can be difficult. Verifying an account balance quickly with an out-

of-state bank can be both costly and time-consuming. So, it may be a good idea to keep a smaller account on campus.

While some parents may fear a credit card can give a student who has difficulty managing his or her affairs too much of a cushion, others find a credit card can provide a useful backup, especially in an emergency or for certain expenses. For instance, it can help with car rentals, plane fares, and railroad tickets. In addition, trying to get money to college students in different locations can be frustrating, and it is often impossible for anyone to cash personal checks away from home.

Making the grade

Ideally, college students should take full charge of a semester’s spending. Life becomes much easier for parents when collegeage children can manage their own finances, and the students will learn valuable life skills in the process.

C op y r i g ht ©2 011L i b e r t y Publishing,Inc. A l lR ig ht s Reserved.

This column appears courtesy of Charles Swindell. Charles is a Registered Representative with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and MetLife Securities, Inc. He focuses on meeting the individual insurance and financial services needs of Houston business owners. You can reach Charles at the office at 832-251-5493.

T

he format and content of your resume are key characteristics that will affect your chances at landing that dream job, or much less, securing an interview. There are many factors that will determine the outcome of the initial review. To maximize EACH opportunity and ensure your resume communicates your skills and experience, follow the simple steps below.

Spelling eRRoRS & pooR gRammaR Check your resume for accuracy in spelling, grammar and punctuations. A poorly written resume tells a lot about someone’s personality and communication skills. After all, how will you fulfill your employment responsibilities if you cannot present a resume that is grammatically correct and free of errors? too complicateD & time conSuming Remember, the employer’s time is limited. Resumes should be formatted in a common and easy to read font. Avoid graphics and special characters and fonts (i.e. italics, underlined words, shadow fonts, etc).

R eSume lackS SubStance Avoid clichés at all costs (“I am self-motivated”, “I am a team player”, “I have excellent communication skills”, “I have a strong work ethic”, “I have a proven track record”). You have successfully blended in with

90% of other resumes. Include specific and measurable facts, such as “Increased annual sales by 20%,” instead of “Consistently met goals”.

R eSume haS no cleaR focuS oR DiRection Your resume should reflect an association between your skills and the employer’s needs. Focus on your accomplishments rather than previous duties to sell yourself as the best candidate for the position. leaVing k eyWoRDS out of youR R eSume Most hiring ma nagers and recruiters use database technology to input keywords when searching for resumes.

Keywords consist of nouns and phrases that highlight job titles, technical skills, and position or industry related jargon. Including pertinent keywords throughout your resume will significantly increase your chances of being discovered. h i Di n g you R S k i l l S & ceRtificationS Your credentials are key components of your profile.

Specialized skills can set you apart in a valuable way. Avoid placing certifications, training and computer skills at the end of your resume.

Remember, your resume is a marketing tool to advertise YOUR accomplishments, skills and qualifications. As many jobseekers apply to multiple positions in different industries, it is extremely important to update and tailor your resume to the position and industry you are applying to. Finally, ask someone who can provide relevant, constructive feedback to review your resume prior to sending it to prospective employers. Good Luck!

28. July, 2012

July, 2012 29.

Moving The Sales Process Along

By Frank Mims V, Contributing Writer

D

on’t you just hate it when you know you have done everything correctly in the selling process and the customer is stalling?

That customer repeatedly tells you things like, we will come in for a demo later this week, and then does not show or, we will review your proposal tomorrow, and tomorrow never comes, and my favorite one of all – I am meeting with the committee next Thursday and we will sign off on your agreement, but nothing happens. When the process is stalled several things are occurring with the prospect and with you.

W hy can sta lling be a problem? The obvious answer is – this is a delay in the signing

of your agreement, but here is what is really happening when a prospect/customer stalls in the middle of the sales process.

First, your competitors are in the offices of your prospect/customer and they are not talking about how well your product/service fits their needs, they are talking about how theirs does. Second, in a fast-changing world the need/ problem has changed. Either the need required a larger or smaller solution or your solution no longer fits. Third, the company has merged or been bought and your contact no longer participates in the decision.

When the process stalls, so does your energy level. The zeal that you attacked his or her problem with has been transferred to another prospect. All that time spent and energy wasted. What do you do to cure a stall? Several things come to mind.

CURE A

STALL

A. The way you start is critical to your success in sales.

If you start with a detailed, chronologically written game

plan, where everyone (you and your customer) agree, your success is greatly elevated.

B. Close often. Trial closes can be compared to a barometer. A barometer is an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure.

When the pressure/conditions change, you know you can act and not be placed in a position to react.

C. Know your competitor’s intimacy. A close, familiar, and usually affectionate knowledge of the competitor’s product, service and the salesperson on the other side is important.

Know the competitor’s strengths and weaknesses and where the competitor is most vulnerable.

D. Get a new doctor. Get a second opinion from one of your co-salespersons. Take him or her with you on a few meetings to get a read on the prospect; then you must listen. The information imparted will be invaluable in the sales process.

E. Update the constitutivelistening. Businesses change; that’s the manner in which they grow. That change can affect you negatively or positively; you must know which and be ready for either.

Benefits The benefit of a written game plan is that it provides you with a sales playbook. That playbook keeps everyone in lockstep with the plan and everyone is aware of the next step. There are no surprises, only situations that need to be tweaked. If a problem arises, you are aware of it early and can act, not react. Have a point of reference to which you can turn.

The trial close in sales has been used for years to seek out objections the prospect may have regarding your product or service. There are 56 other closing techniques.

The 21st century salesperson uses the trial close as a barometer to check the total business transactions of the company and the impact the product or service would have on the operational environment of the business. The benefit here is that the more you understand about the integration of your product in the prospect’s environment, the better your business case will be and the better prepared you are to move

the sales process along.

The who, what, when, where, and how of your competition’s products/services is the most important and a must know in preventing a stall by a prospect or customer. Many stalls are caused when the competition has injected fear, uncertainty, and doubt into the mind of your prospect. Know the lies and mistrusts your competition will speak about your offerings and combat them with facts, applications, and references.

How? Ask the members of your sales team.

Test what you hear. Two or three times during the process, well before the stall occurs, take a team member/manager with you to help you access the account.

Use the same reasons you would to get a second opinion from a medical doctor about an illness; get a second opinion from a team member.

Frank Mims, V ...Motivation-InnovationMethodology-Satisfaction...

Selling To Increase Your Profits

http://www.mimsmorningmeeting.com email: fmims@mimsmorningmeeting.com On Youtube: frankmimsv

Build a Better Community By Giving Back

By Dr. Wendy, Contributing Writer

S

pending countless hours working hard to build and grow your business and your brand is a great thing, however it means nothing if you do not make the time to give back to the community.

On average when people think of volunteering the thought of

“commitment” comes to mind and people run away. Owning a successful business means that you will spend numerous hours assessing your product, the competition and your financial position. Unlike your business the beauty of volunteering is that you can create as much of a commitment as you want. You have the option to volunteer as much of your time as you are willing, while still focusing on your business and personal life.

Community service comes in various facets, as there are numerous organizations that would value and appreciate your time. The biggest challenge is deciding what cause to support.

The best approach is to select something that you are passionate

about. Whatever you decide keep in mind that it must keep you excited, engaged and a cause that will keep you feeling honored to support it. Surprisingly many organizations do not ask for a long term commitment, as some are more project based and would appreciate any quality time you would have to spare.

Yes, volunteering may seem time consuming however take a step back and think about the positive impact you will have on someone’s life. I want you to deliberate the following: • Think about the adults that need assistance reading and would “love” for you to help them read their first book.

• Think about the women at the homeless shelter that appreciate

your monthly empowerment/ motivational visits.

• Think about the young lady that wants to go to college and does not know where to begin.

• Think about the student that wants a job and does not know how to prepare a resume.

• Think about the students that aspire to be an entrepreneur and want to talk to someone about getting started and what it takes to be successful.

• Think about the senior citizen that needs “an ear” so they can share their stories or needs a chess or card partner.

These generous acts of kindness are nothing new, as they have been around for generations. It has grown through the years, as there are now more opportunities for community services. Those who take on these projects have greatly benefited from their work as they gain memorable experiences, and build unique character traits and valuable networks.

There are numerous organizations that are always looking for an extra helping hand to put a smile on someone’s face. With all the opportunities available to volunteer, you can definitely find something that can change not just their lives, but yours as well.

Make the time and - Give back to your Community!

30. July, 2012

R. W. Bray, Inspired to Make a Change

By R.W. Bray

A

century and a half ago, a group of dedicated African Americans decided economic equality was imperative to the future of their race, but the government and its laws favored inequality that limited the growth of their freedom. Through the hard work of a nu mber of ded ic ated black men and women, the earliest foundations of the Republican Party of Texas were laid. The first city to hold a Republican convention in the state of Texas was Houston on July 4, 1867. It was predominantly African American in composition, with about 150 Black men and 20 White men.

My name is R.W. Bray and I am a Black Republican running to bring a second Reconstruction to the State of Texas. On the ballot this November, R.W. Bray will appear as the Republican candidate for Senate District 6, but 20 plus years ago I was simply listed as Rasuali Wayne Bray, one of only two surviving children mentioned in Julia Bray’s obituary published in the Lake Charles, Louisiana newspaper. My mother was a pro-black feminist radical. She was young

and energetic, filled with promise and hope for the f uture adva ncement of blacks. However, my proud mother passed away in the autumn of her life. At eleven years old, it’s hard to comprehend death, who dies at thirty?

Notwithstanding, I learned early on, life stops for no one, but the world is always in need of radicals.

At 18, I attended Dillard University to pursue a bu si ne s s de g re e. T h at was an interesting age, not only was it the year I started my life away from home, I met my father who had abandoned me at birth. While in college I became very grateful for my grandparents adopting my sister and me after being wards of the State.

From them I learned the importance of hard work and independence. I lost them both in the following years; my grandmother died first and my grandfather followed.

Not long after their deaths I joined the military.

Today, I serve my country proudly as a guardsmen and I could not have made a better decision with my life than to enlist in the United States Air Force. Trained with the discipline of the military and equipped

with a college education I moved to Dallas, TX in pursuit of business. In Dallas, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a business man by helping to create a number of medical facilities, establishing marketing strategies and building bu si ne s s re l at ion s h ip s that would offer me endless possibilities. As an established businessman, my independence and desire to be self sufficient led me back to New Orleans in pursuit of law. Not long after the move, Hurricane Katrina brought me to Houston. The aftermath of Katrina became one of the most painful experiences of my life.

But I remember looking up one day and thinking, “I’m tired of working for others.” It was then I realized the world would not take my life. I took back my life that day and consequently won an empowering independence and an incredible respect for my black ancestors.

Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington became my heroes and I dedicated my life to being unchained to any power that would attempt to enslave me to a debilitating system of need. Instead accepting the philosophy of asking my neighbor for a handout, I embraced the thought of asking for a hand up. I hung on to my grandparent’s teachings and I embraced the fighting spirit of the city of New Orleans.

Fast forward through all the degrees and certifications, past the d isappoint ment s a nd struggles, skirt through all the recent City Hall fights for fiscal conservatism, racial equality and the return of our moral compass, and you’ll find that I am now running to be the first Black Republican Senator since the Reconstruction and the only active national guardsman in the State of Texas, to take seat in Austin chambers since the early 1900’s. Currently, I am the

Vice President of Houston’s Yo u n g R e p u b l i c a n s , a proud member of the Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals and several more affiliations and organizations of change and healing that would do nothing more than drag my story on for the sake of bragging.

No, if I’m to boast let me boast in this—that I am the product of a black owned publication, incorporated by a man who would not meet me until six years after I’d read an article that would catapult my political interest and self reliance. At a political function, one of the D-Mars founders was present and I had the honor to express my gratitude for the impact him and his brother’s dream had made on my life. Unknowingly, my manifest destiny was inspired by an article written by the president and publisher, Keith Davis

Sr. In an article that would change my life, Keith attributed a small message to his readers about how he chased his dream and how important entrepreneurship would be to the deliverance of not only us as individuals but us as a people.

In these recent years A mericans have seen more conservative African Americans speaking up and stepping out than ever before. We are the believers of a message much like the one Keith wrote about.

We ’r e d r e a m c h a s e r s , refusing to be held down by an oppressive government that would have us relinquish the birthright of liberty for pieces of paper.

We are failures determined to lift ourselves up without the help of an insolvent system depending on our impoverishment, but instead trust in the power of human will and Gods divine intervention. We

are the decedents of slaves and the heirs of a promise given to us a century and a half ago—the promise of Emancipation and the reconstruction of our government to provide us with freedom to succeed or fail. But, we will not fail.

If anyone wants to know why I am running…I am running because I believed in the words in an article about a story of one man who dared to share his dreams with readers, hoping that he might touch one. I am running for office and sharing my story in hopes that it may touch one another, so that come November, whether Republican or not, those who read this article might know enough of me to vote on principle over party.

Who knows it may be the first step for the second Reconstruction Era of Texas.

July, 2012 31.

32. July, 2012

Thelma Scott, Disability Advocate for People with Different and Unique Abilities

By Sharon C. Jenkins, Contributing Writer worked hard to overcome her disability and has dedicated her life to helping people with unique abilities by inspiring and encouraging students with disabilities by showing them how important it is to finish high school and attend college. She encourages them to have a vision for academic success in their lives and to give back through performing volunteer outreach services in their community.

Recent Highlights for the Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation:

White House Champion of Change Nomination:

T

helma Scott founded the Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation (“BJEC”) in December 2000. As an undergraduate student, Thelma came to grips with her own hidden disabilities and personal challenges to live in a world that lacks compassion and understanding for people who are different with a unique ability. She was a breast cancer survivor, endured a spinal injury, memory lost and other illnesses after chemotherapy while in pursuit of a college education. Through her own personal journey and willingness to beat the odds after becoming a former Texa s Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) consumer, she became an advocate for People with Disabilities and it was these very challenges that gave her the vision to help make a difference in the lives of students with “Unique Abilities” and their families to have the opportunity to learn to be independent, educated, productive citizens and valued members of their community. With this mind set it will ensure “Barrier Free Living and People with “Different and Unique Abilities” can enjoy a better quality of life.

Congresswoman Barbara Jordan was one of those individuals

who inspired her to push beyond her perceived limitations to help others.

In 1995, Thelma had an opportunity to meet her role-model at LBJ School of Public Affairs, after this historic event she was even more inspired to make a difference in the lives of those who are unique.

As an ex-DARS consumer with a determined mind and the motto “Never Give Up, No Matter What” on her lips, she began the plans to develop an organization for students with disabilities. One of Thelma’s goals for the organization was to partner with Barbara Jorda n High School for Careers, Hou s t on C om mu n it y College, other colleges, high schools, disability organizations, businesses and individuals who would sponsor a scholarship to inspire, encourage and mentor these unique students by giving them the opportunity to attend college, become selfsufficient and productive citizens in our community.

She is currently in six independent school districts.

Her main objective is to encourage and inspire students with disabilities not to drop out of high school and pursue a college degree with the understanding that they can do anything anyone else can do if given an o p p o r t u n i t y. S c o t t

states, “This organization empowers students and their parents to become Disabilit y Advocates.

Parents are equipped through this program to get involved in their child’s education through our transition program and our bulling prevention training. This organization continues to seek true advocates, sponsors and mentors who are willing to work with these unique students by supporting the Barbara Jordan Ambassadors Program and its participants throughout their college career, no matter how long it takes these students to complete their college degree.”

T h e o r g a n i z a t i on i s committed to develop c o l l a b o r a t i v e partnerships with nonprof it or g a n i z at ion s , g over n ment a g enc ie s , businesses, corporations, private fou nd at ions, institutions, high schools, individuals and different Chamber of Commerce’s to create disabilities coalition support groups to educate communities about hidden disabilities, as well as physical and mental disabilities through community awareness, bullying prevention, people first language, outreach activities and the impact people with disabilities can make on their communities and society.

Thelma Scott has

On May 7, 2012, The Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation, Founder Thelma Scott was nominated for the White House Champion for Change STEM for People with Disabilities Award!

Houston Chronicle News Story:

On April 3, 2012, Houston Chronicle wrote an article on the Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation Group that offers hope to special needs teens.

Great Day Houston News Story: March 30, 2012, Great Day Houston did a story on Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation known as their Unique Abilities and Community In House Partner Different Abilities.

These two organizations are not reinventing the wheel, but coming together for one great cause People with Disabilities.

Rotary Club of Houston Nor t hwest Sunset: February 7, 2012, The Rotary Club of Houston Northwest featured a n amazing story on Thelma Scott and two Rotarians who volunteers with Barbara Jorda n Endeavors Corporation

to enhance the lives of students with “Unique Abilities” and their parents.

DARS Sta keholder Spot light: February 1, 2012, DARS Stakeholder spotlights the Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation. Furthering her legacy is Houston’s own Thelma Scott, whose organization, the Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation, carries on the work of its namesake.

TCDD State Pla n Newsletter: Ja nu a r y1, 2012 , Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation was mentioned in the Texa s Council on Developmental Disabilities yearly State Plan Newsletter for their BJ Student Ambassadors in the Barbara Jordan Endeavors Corporation’s Cultural Outreach and Development Project received awards from the Art Angels Healing Arts Program.

July, 2012 33.

CONGRATULATIONS TO HOWARD JEFFERSON

ON

75 YEARS

HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE

EMPOWERING HEARTS, MINDS, & LIVES

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ANNUAL GALA

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